The Hispanic National Bar Association and Association of Corporate Counsel Partner on Groundbreaking Executive Leadership Program for Latina Lawyers

WASHINGTON, July 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an unprecedented partnership, the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) and the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) are joining forces to design and implement a groundbreaking initiative for Latina lawyers in the private sector.

The HNBA-ACC Latina Executive Leadership Program will involve an estimated 50 Latina HNBA members from the private sector and several chief legal officers who will collaborate on financial and case management education and networking opportunities. The overarching goal of the program is to equip Latina lawyers with innovative client service and case management skills necessary to better-align their practice with the emerging value-based approach that clients are adopting to buy legal services in an increasingly competitive global business environment.

"The HNBA is excited to partner with ACC to implement an executive leadership program that will enable seasoned Latina attorneys to enhance their client development and retention skills," stated Roman D. Hernandez, HNBA National President.  "The HNBA has dedicated significant resources toward the success of this joint program because it believes in addressing challenges unique to Latina lawyers, and to help level the playing field in a male-dominated profession," concluded Hernandez.

Susan Hackett, Vice President and General Counsel of the ACC noted, "We are thrilled to partner with the HNBA and work with a group of accomplished Latina lawyers representing a rich variety of practice areas.  Our pilot program will offer them the skills necessary to reduce inefficiencies, increase productivity, improve the way legal services are delivered, and focus on results and outcomes that add value for the corporate client. The potential benefits are immense."  

"Our goal is that when a Latina lawyer completes this program, she will be in a position to apply the skills she learned in whatever forum her legal practice takes her, as well as to be a leader in her profession and in her law firm," said Josefina Fernandez McEvoy, Co-Chair of the HNBA's Standing Commission on the Status of Latinas in the Legal Profession.  "The skills gleaned from this executive leadership program will better enable our Latina lawyers to provide legal services to sophisticated corporate clients," concluded Fernandez McEvoy.

The first training and networking session of the program will occur in Minneapolis in September 2010 immediately prior to the start of HNBA's 35^th Annual Convention.  The second session is scheduled to take place in Houston, Texas in October 2010 and will coincide with the annual conference of the ACC.  Through this executive leadership program, the HNBA is addressing recommendations identified in its national study and report entitled, "Few and Far Between:  The Reality of Latina Lawyers," that included a recommendation for the development of opportunities and programs to assist Latina lawyers at all phases of their educational and career development.

The HNBA  is an incorporated, not-for-profit, nonpartisan, national membership organization that represents the interests of the more than 100,000 Hispanic attorneys, judges, law professors, legal assistants, and law students in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories.  For more information about the HNBA, please visit www.hnba.com.

SOURCE Hispanic National Bar Association